Car seat



J. M. KNIGHT Sept. 6, 1932.

CAR SEAT Filed March 21, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l flTTOR/VEY 3 Sheets-Shemv Sept. 6, 1932. J. M. KNIGHT CAR SEAT Filed March 21, 1930 Sept. 6:, 1932.

Patented Sept. 6,1932

'' 301m M. KNIGHT, or ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NEW JEnsnxmssIGnoR' TO. AMERICAN can AND FOUNDRY. courzmx, 'omNEw YO K, N.,Y A-conroRATIoN OF NEW JERSEY I v l CAR SEAT Application filed Marcher 1930, H Serial Nb. 437,750.

This invention relates to car seats and more particularly to revolving seatsfor'railway, passenger cars and it is the'object of 7 this invention to rovide an improved mechnisnrin whicha lever mechanism having a Y 1:) fixed fulcrum is operated by a rotating part anisin for a revo ving seat which will automatically tilt the seat body during the rota} tion thereof. It is also the object of this in vention to provide a revolvingseatmechato maintain the seat body in a tilted position d'uring'a predetermined partor the rotation of the'seat body 1 In the drawings: j 5 F'grl 's a top plan view showing part of the row of seats along one side ofa car, the

center seat being shown in partly turned and fully turned positions; g I

Fig. 2 is a view of an elevation of the seats in a partly turned position; I t

Fig. 3 1s a top plan View in a normal posi-. tion of one of the seat structures shown n order to show the seat mechanism. more clearly;

' Fig. 4 isaview similar to Eige'buthow ing the position of the mechanism with the seat body partlyturned;

line 5-5 of Fig. '3 with a fragmentof the seat body frame attached thereto;

Fig. 6 is a verticals'ection taken o'ntheline 3 66 ,of Fig. 4 with the position ofthebotto nf ofthe seat frame indicated inbroken lines; and '1 Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken onthe; line 7 7 ofFig; 4' with the position ofthe' ;bottom of the seat body frame indicated in single pressed member it will be understood shown inFig. 1, the center seat being shown 1 Figs. 1 and 2 with-the seat body removed in Fig. 5 is a'vertical section taken'on the that it may be formed of a number of parts united together'in any desired manner, "In. the'top 2 ,offthe pedestal 1' is an elongated rectangularlopening or slotdand tothet op,

2 is attached a guide plate; 8of irregular shape and havingan opening 10 correspond-1 ing tothe opening. 16 in the top .2, the opening lObeing defined by flanges 11 which fit the sides otthe openingt, f A

As shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and 7 aslide block 12 is-provided which has shouldersor flanges 14, (see Fig. 7) engaged beneath .a the flanges 11 ofthe guideiplate'8and a down-e wardly projecting arm;,or wall 16 braced by ribs orsidewalls 18. Thel ower edges-eithearm 16 and the ribs 18 are joined bya web 17 having aflange 19 which also connects theribs 18. The slide block 12 is also provided with a cylindrical portion 2O which'projects above thepIate S-and about which fits th'ehub of aspider 22; Thelspider 22 defines a seat plate or hinge plate, and rests on the guide plate 8'and top 2 andis secured to the slide block 12 by washers-24 and nut/26, the hinge plate 22 and theshoulders-14 serving to' retain-the slide block 12in position in the open-' ing in the guide; plate '8;

- 1 The hinge plate '22.comprises a hubEportion 28 vwhich fits about the cylindrical portion ofthe slide block 12 and-arms 30 (see'F ig. 4)

. which connect the hub-portion 28 toan'annular rim 32 of substantially channel shape, said rim, as showninFig. 7', having its inwardly projecting lower flange. resting on the top 2 and formed atits free edge with a'thickened portion" 34 which fits-beneath offset portions or outwardly projecting arms 36- formed integral with the guide plate 8'." The hinge plate '22 is also provided with spaced projecting arms 40 formedlat their ends withspaced' perforated-lugs 42 which cooperate with similar lugs 44 formed on plates 46 attached to the member 48 0f the base frame at the front'edge'of the'seat body50, the openings in the lugs '42 and 44 being aligned't'o receive hinge pins 52 which pivotally'eonnect the plates 46 to the arms 40 'ofthe hinge plate 22. The hinge plate 22- is also'for ned- I with aflange 54 which'ipr'oje'cts outwardly v UNIT D STATE PATENTForrlcs from the annular portion 32 for substantially one-half of the perimeter of the annular portion 32 and with a flange 56 attached to the flange 54 but oflset therefrom and projecting outwardly beyond the flange 54. The flange 56 is of the same extent as the flange 54 and while the perimeter of the flange 54 is substantially circular in shape and concentric with the rim 32, the perimeter of the flange 56 is not but projects a greater distance from the flange .54 at its central position than at,

its ends. Spaced from the ends of the flanges 54 and 56 are stops 58 and 60 formed integral with the hinge plate 22 and forming with the ends of the flanges 54 and 56 slots 62 and 64.

Attached to the pedestal 1 at one side there of is a'bracket casting 66 (see, Figs. 5, 6 and 7) having formed integral therewith a lug 68 which projects through an opening in the top 2 of'the pedestal 1 in position toengage with the perimeter of the flange 54 as shown in Fig. 6. The lug 68 is of such a height as to bereceive d beneath the flange 56. Pivotally attached to the bracket casting 66 is a lever 7 0 having a short arm 7 2 projecting upwardly through an opening in the top 2 of the pedestall and positioned to engage with the perimeter of the oflset flange 56 as shown in Fig. 6. The lever 70 has also alonger bent arm 74 which projects into the base of theseat and has its outer end extending between guides 76 attached to a diaphragm 78 which is secured to the pedestal 1 and extends between the sides thereof. Extending through aligned openings in the slide block 12 and the web 17 is a vertically reciprocable rod or plunger 80 having at its lower end a roller 82 mounted to travel in a groove 84 formed in the upper surface of the outer end portion of the arm 74. Theupper end of the plunger 80 is rounded as at86 and'enga'ges with a member 88 of the seat base frame.

Attached to the pedestal 1 at the corners the foot rests 92 thereon and formed with pads 94 which cooperate with similar pads formed on brackets 96 attached to the seat body 50. As can be seen in Fig. 2, thebrackets 96 at the rear of the seat are provided with lips 98 spaced from the pad portions of the brackets which lips engage beneath the pad portions 94 of the brackets 90 to prevent tilting of the seat.

'To operate the seat there is provided a foot pedal 100 pivotally mounted in a bracket 102 attached to the diaphragm 7 8 and having one arm thereof pivotally connected to a rod 104 threaded into the wall 16 of the slide block 12. On the other arm ofthe foot lever 100, there is pivotally mounted a latch operating lever 106, which, when its outer port1on is depressed, engages with and trips a latch 108 secured to the pedestal as shown to be depressed. To one side of the pedestal 1 there is secured a J-bolt 110 which extends through openings in the bracket casting 66 and the side of the pedestal 1 and is secured in position therein by a nut 112. To the J- bolt 112 is attached one end of a tension spring 114 the other end of which attached to the flange 19 extending between the ribs 18.

When placed in av car, the seats are ar-' ranged in a row with the foot levers 100 projecting towards the aisle of the car and-the seat bodies positioned with an arm adjacent the side wall of the car. In their normal positions as shownin Fig. 5 each seat body 50 will be facing towards one end of therar, the slide block 12 will be at the extreme left of the slot 10 and the lug 68 on the casting 66 will be in one of the slots 62 and 64 and engaged with one of the stops 58 and 60. The foot lever will also be in its raised position and the lips 98 on the rear brack ets 96 will be engaged beneath the pads 94 at the rear of the seat. In the usual placing of'the seats the spacing between the seats is such that when it is desired to turn all the seats of the row this may be accomplished by beginning with the front seat of the row and turning the seats in succession but sufficient distance between seats is not provided that any intermediate seat may be turned without interfering with the back of the seat ahead. In the present invention,however, to turn any seat in the row whether the seat is being turned in succession to the seats ahead or is the only seat being turned, the operator depresses the lever 106 releasing the latch 108 and depressesthe foot lever'lOO which through its connection with the rod 104 and slide block 12 slides the hinge plate 22 on the pedestal 1, shifting the seat on the pedestall outwardly from the car side wall and disengaging the lips 98 from beneath the pads 94. This movement of the hinge plate 22 on the pedestal 1 also shifts the hinge plate22 so that the lug 68 is disengaged from the slot 62 or 64 whereupon the seat is free for turning movement. Turning the seat body 50 also turns the hinge plate 22 and the turning movement of the hinge plate 22 engages the perimeter of the flange 54 with the lug 68 (seeFig. 6) whichengagement' the hinge plate 22 is rotated the flange 56 engages with the arm 7 2 of the lever 70 and the camming shape of the flange 56 is such J that during the first portion of the rotating movement of the hinge plate 22the arm, .7 2

will be forced outwardly raising the arm 74 and the plunger 80. The upward movement of the plunger 80 through its engagement with the member 88 with the seat base tilts the seat body 50 (see Fig. 6) so as to bring the upperfedge; of the-seat back: more nearly :over.= the plungerTSO in which position; the

ment. The flange 56 is so shaped that following 'the elevation of the plunger 80- the arm: 7 2 Will be held to :its outward position and the plunge'ru80 held. in its upper posi= tion and during the'latter part of the movem ent'the flange 56 will permit the gradual return of the arm.72 and hence the downward movement of plunger 80. Upon the completion of the rotation of the seat body and hinge plate 22, the seat body has bee'n're turned to its horizontal position and the lug 68:;is engaged with the other stop 58 or 60 preventing the further movement of their hingeaplate in that: direction. With the engagement' of the lug 68cwith the other of the stops/58 or 60 the'spring 114 retracts the slidefblock 12 and. hinge. plate 22 bringing with it'the seat body 50 thus returning the seat-to the car. side wall and bringing the lips 98 of the bracket 96 beneath the padsQ-fl at the rear of the seat and engaging the lug GS' inHthe other slot 62 or 6 k. While the shape of'the flange 56 may be varied to suit conditions ithas' been found satisfactory to tilt the seat during substantially the first 45 dgreesvof rotation of the hinge plate22 and to m'ain'tain. the seat in the tilted position during substantially 90 degrees of rotation and to permit the seat to drop during 45 de grees of rotation at the end of themovement.

- WV-h'ile the preferred form of the inventionhas been shownjand described,jit is to be un- 4 derstood that the invention is not limited to the exact details l of construction shown and described-as it is ob-vi'ousgthat variousmodifications thereof within the scope of the claims What,is;cl'aimed is f V 1-.. In-: a seat-,'a base, av seat plate rotatably mounted thereon, a seat body hinged to said seat plate,:lever means pivotally mounted on said base and operated by said seat. plate upon rotation thereof'and a plunger engaging the seat body and operated by said lever to tiltsaid seat body.

v 2. In. a seat, a base, a seat plate rotatably mounted thereon andhaving a cam surface, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, lever means operated by said cam surface upon rotation of said seat plate, and means engaging the'seat body upon operation. of the to tilt said seat body.

In aflseat, a base, aseat plate rotatably mounted thereon and having a cam surface, a seatbody hingedto said seat plate, lever means pivoted ontsaid baseand operated by lever said cam surface upon rotation of the seat plate, a body-engaging means actuated by the lever for tilting said seat body upon rotationof said seat-plate.

fi l; Ina seat, a base, a seat plate rotatably t mounted-=thereon and having ac'am surface,

a seat body hinged-tosaid seat'plate, lever means operated by said cam surface upon seat requires lessspacefor its turningvmovef rotation of saidse'atplate and a plungernem gaging the seatbodyand operated by said leverto tilt said body a 5. In a seat, a base,'a,seat platerotatably -mounted thereon, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, bell crank lever means operated by said seat plate upon rotation thereof and a plunger engaging "the seat body and oper ated by said leverto tilt :said bo y. y

.6 In a seat, a base, .a seat plate slidably and; rotatably' mounted thereon, a seat body hinged to said seat'plate, stop means on said base, means on the seat plate cooperating with saidstop means to normally vprevent (rotation ofsaid seat plate,vmeans to slide said seat plate on said base todisengage said seat plate from said stop means and means secured to said base and operated by said seat plate upon I'OlifltlOIl" thereof 'to tilt said seat rotation of said seat, plate, means to slide said seat plate to disengage said seat plate.

from said stop means, lever means 'pivotally secured to said-base and operated by said seat plate upon rotation thereof, and seat body engaging means operated by the lever means to tilt said'seat body. I

8.,In a seat, abase, a seat plateslidablyv and'rotatably mounted thereon, a seat 'bod'y' hingedto-said seat plate, stop means on said? base, means on the seat plate cooperating withrsaid stop means to normally prevent rotation of said seat plate, means for shifting said seat plate todisengage's'aid seat; plate from said stop means, lever means -piv-.

otally mounted on said base and operated by saidseat plate upon; rotation thereofand aplunger engaging the seat body and operated-by said-- lever means to tilt" said seat body.

9. In a seat, a base a seat plate slidably b and rotatably mounted onsaid base and providedf with a cam surface, a seat body hinged to saidseat plate, a stop on said base, means:

on the seat plate cooperating with said stop to normally prevent rotation'of said seat plate,

means to slide'said seat plate on said base tOl disengage it fromsaid stop, and leverimeans' in cooperative relation with and adapted to: be operated by'said cam surface upon rota-' tion thereof with the seat plate-to tiltthe seat body relative to: said seat plate.

10. In a seat, afbase, a seat plate slidablyy and? rotatably' mounted-thereon, a seat body .hingedto said-seat plate, stop means onsaid base, means on the seat plate cooperating with saidstop means to normally prevent rotation thereof,-means to slide-saidseat plate on said base to free the seat plate from the stop means to permit rotation of said seat plate, said stop means engaging said seat plate to hold it shifted during rotation thereof, and means operated by said seat plate during rotation thereof to tilt said seat body.

11. In a seat, a base, a seat plate slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, stop means on said base, means on said seat plate cooperating with said stop means to normally prevent rotation of said seat plate, means to slide said seat plate on said base to free the seat plate from the stop means to permit rotation of said seat plate, said stop means engaging said seat plate to hold it shifted during rotation thereof, and movable means secured to said baseand operated by said seat plate during rotation thereof to tilt said seat body.

12. In a seat, a base, a seat plate slidably and. rotatably mounted thereon,'a seat body hinged to said seat plate, stop means on said base, means on said seat plate cooperating with said stop means to normally prevent rotation thereof, means to slide said seat plate I on. said base to free the seat plate from the stop means to permit rotation of said seat plate, said stop means engaging said seat plate to hold said seat plate shifted during rotation thereof, and means including a lever pivotally mounted on said base and operated by said seat plate during rotation thereof to tilt said seat body.

13. In a seat, a base, a seat plate slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, stop means on said base, means on said seat plate cooperating with said stop means to normally prevent rotation thereof, means to slide said seat plate means arranged in cooperative relation with on said base to free the seat plate from the stop means to permit rotation of said seat plate, said stop means engaging said seat plate to hold it shifted during rotation thereof, a lever pivotally mounted on said base and operated by said seat plate upon rotation thereof and'a plunger operated by said lever to tilt said seat body.

1 14. In a seat, a base, a seat plate having a cam surface slidably and rotatably mounted on said base, a seat body hinged to said seat' plate, stop means on said base, means on said seat plate cooperating with said stop means to normally prevent rotation thereof, means to slide said .seat plate on said base to free the seat plate-from the stop means to permit rotation of said seat plate, said stop means engaging said seat plate'to hold the latter shifted during rotation thereof, and means operated by said cam surface to tilt said seat body upon rotation of said seat plate.

15. In a seat, a base, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the base, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, lever means operated by said seat plate upon rotation thereof, and shiftable the lever means and seat body and shiftable by the said lever means upon actuation of thelatter to tilt said body when the latter is being rotated.

16. In a seat, a base, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the base, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, lever means pivoted to the base and arranged in cooperative relation with the seat plate .to be operated by said seat plate upon rotation 'thereof,and means interposed between the lever and seat body adapted to be actuated by said lever to tilt said .seat body.

17. In a seat, a base, a seat plate slidably and rotatably mounted on said base and provided with a marginal cam surface, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, a stop secured to the base and engaging a portion of the seat plate to normally prevent rotation of the latter, means to slide said seat plate on said base to disengage it from said stop, and lever means operated by said cam surface upon rotation thereof with the seat plate to tilt the seat body relative to said seat plate.

18. In a seat, a base, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the base, a seat bodyhinged to said seat plate, lever means pivoted to the base .and operated by said seatplate upon rotation of the latter and vertically shiftable means actuated by said lever means upon pivotal movement of the latter for tilting the seat body. I

19. In a seat, a base, a seat plate rotatably mounted on the base about an axis fixed with respect to said seat plate and shiftable relative to the base, a seat body hingedly connected to the seat plate and lever means actuated by said seat plate upon rotation thereof for tilting the seat body;

20. In a seat, a base, a longitudinally shiftable seat plate mounted on the base, a slide block on said base to which the seat plate is rotatably connected, said side block defining iob the axis of rotation of the seat plate, and

said axis of rotation being fixed relative to the seat plate and shiftable relative to said base, a seat body hingedly connected to the seat plate, and lever means actuated by the seat plate upon rotation of the latter and cooperating with the seat body for tilting the latter.

21. In a seat, a base, a seat body, a seat plate to which the seat body is hingedly connected, a seat plate support on the base to which the seat plate is rotatably connected, said support defining a fixed axis of rotation for the seat plate, resiliently actuated means for normally positioning the support and seat plate, a stop with which the seat plate cooperates when in normal position for preventing rotation of said seat plate, lever means for shifting the support and seat plate to disengage the latter from the stop to perthe seat plate upon rotation thereof to tilt said seat body.

22. In a seat, a base, a seat body, a seat plate to which the body is hinged, a shiftable element on the base to which the seat plate is connected for rotation about a fixed axis, a stop with which said seat plate cooperates when the latter is in normal position for re= straining the seat plate against rotation, lever means for sliding the shiftable element on the base to shift the seat plate and its axis of rotation relative to the base and to dis engage the seat plate from said stop whereby to permit rotation of the seat plate, and lever means actuated by the seat plate upon rotation thereof for tilting the seat body during rotation of the seat plate.

23. In a seat, a base, a seat plate mounted on the base for rotation about a. fixed axis, a seat body hinged to said seat plate, and lever means operated by the seat plate upon rotation thereof to tilt the seat body.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

JOHN M. KNIGHT. 

